Ratchet for socket wrenches



Sept. 10, 1946. v w, c, ss 2,407,558.

- RATCHET FOR SOCKET \(RENCHES Filed Nov. 16, 1944 iz orwe s Patented Sept. 10, 1946 UN ITEDTI. STAIIESTY PAT OF FSICEJL 2,407,558 RATCHET FORTSOCKETWRENCHES L Willard G. 'Kre'ss," Buffalo, N. Y.,' assignor -to .l; Williams 8560;, Buffalop-NsY.

ApplicationNovember-lfi, 1944; 'Serial NOZ563;771Z

13 Claims? (01. 192 431) Thi'syinvention' relates. to ratchet drives, and p t cu a ly to those.utilized with toolssuch as socket wrenches and thelike.

An object of the? invention is to provide an im; provedratchet drive whichican be set to drive in either direction. selectively and ratchet in the other direction, in .an intermediate position in which it does not ratchet. in either direction andthus'serves'as atdirct coupling drivebetween the drivingand driven parts, andwhichwill be" relatively. simple, strong, durable, compact, easily. 1.

manipulatedand inexpensive.

Another. object of the'invention. is to provide an .improved ratchet... drive. having. the .-various operating ..part well enclosed,. so. as to be pro--.

tected against thelentrance .of-..dirt and. other... foreign lmattennandnlarge, .power. -.transmitting capabilities. in. a. small .compact space, which may be set to causetthe drive in .either directionor in .both directions at will by. a simpleoperation of a conveniently. positionedcontrol member, with] which the control memberwillremain in its dif-.

ferent: adjusted positions. .until the coupling. is

definitelychangedand whichwill rlequirea-mini...

mumof seryicingand attention,

Other. objects and advantages. will. be apparent. fromthe following .description of oneembodiment of the.invention,iand the novelieaturesmwill be...

particularlypointed out hereinafter in connection 30.

with the appendedlclaimsv.

In the accompanying. drawing:

Fig.1 is .a sidemelevation at -full.sca1e,.of a ratchet drive. constructed in accordance with-this invention;

Fig.2 is. a planet the same;

Fig. .3.is a longitudinal sectionalelevation of the same .on anenlarged scale, the sectionloeing taken...

approximately along. the .line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig.4 is a bottom .sectionaLp'lan of the same the section being taken approximately along-the.

line l4 of Fig. 3, and looking. in the direction.

of the arrows;

Fig. 5is a longitudinal sectional'elevationbf theI same, thei. section being taken approximately along theline 55 of Fig? 4;

Fig. .6 isa bottom sectional plan of the'same, the section beingztaken approximately'along the" line 6 6 of Fig.5 and l'ooking'in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the cam disc forming'a part of the control of the direction of effectiveness" of the drive.

In the illustrated embodiment of the-invention,

the ratchet drive includes a hollow, 'barrel'shaped element or outer part1, generally inthe forinof' the 'lengthsof thetteeth-t and extending. in trans- The .insidaof the lbarrel part I is generally? cylindrical in sha'pa'and around this inner'pe riphery. of this barrel I is a row of teethilfi. The individual teeth. run in a direction lengthwiselof "."L thischamber. in the'barrel part or elementl; and areallarrangedsidejby .sideand. parallel vto one anotl1er,=-but. in a row around the periphery" of thechamber... This .row of teeth is shown par-. l ticularly in Figs. .4 and 6. .These-teeth are pref-f erably. .y shaped iiicharacter,withlthe. dihedral angleof the apexrapproximately .a rightangle. I

Another element. or inner. part! .telescopesrinto r the chamber of the barrel-part .or element through. the. openaend .2, and has a cylindrical part ..8 en.-

gagingma corresponding cylindrical portion ll i'n' the. .chamberl-of the-element to provide .a bear-. ing surfacecbetween them. The sbearing..surface..... 9 is between the opemendl. andtherow. of teeth.

6. -The' part l has :a cylindrical bearing. end I011.

whichds substantiallyrconcentricwiththeaxis of Q the:.bearing surface 8,-and at .its 'free endit ap-..- proximately abuts against-.thei'inner end ,wall 3 of thebarrelorpartslttotransmit thrust between the parts}. andtl inan: endwisecdirection. "-Be,

tween the'bearing. portiomB 'andlthe bearing end lfl,wthis:inner-part- I has cut. awayportions or grooveswll and I2 runningiina direction endwisew. of thenpartfl and these' two cutaway-portionsl I and -.I2,:lbetweensthem;havea V-shaped walltl3 with the *apex outermosts Formed in the bottomof theicutawayportionw l l is a concave, partially. cylindrical bearing: t4 (Fig; :6) having a length approximately equal to 1-.

verse.- section-1 slightly :1more..than a half circle. The cut'saway: portion l2 hasra similartbearing surface l-5. -.A ratchetpawl lthas a partially cymlindrical, .convex surface .11. along one edge whichfits and is rotatably received in thebearing J4, this bearing surface llbeing considerably in ex cess of a half. c'ylindenso that the pawl It may rock in the'bearing' [4 through a substantialan gle.' ,sirfiilailyfla pawl l8 has a convex,'cylindri f cal'bearingfportion 19 along one edge'iwhich is I rockably mounted in the bearing I5, this bearing surface i9 being considerably more than a half cylinder, so that the pawl I8 may rock through a considerable angle in the bearing I5. Both pawls I6 and I8 can abut against the converging walls that form the wall I3, as shown by the position of the pawl I8 in Fig. 6.

Each of the'pawls I6 or I8 at its outer or free end is provided with a notch 26 of approximately 90 and en-gageable over any one of the V shaped teeth 6 aligned therewith at any time, as shown, for example, by the position of the pawl I6 in Fig.5. One wall of each notch 20 is app mately normal to a radius to the cylindrical bear-' ing IT or IE1 of that pawl, so that when the notch 26 is engaged over a tooth 6, as shown .by the position of the pawl I6 in Fig. 6, that wall of the notch 20 which is normal to the radius to the bearing of that pawl will be in full abutting relation, flatwise, against one face or wall of that tooth 6 over which the notch 26 is engaged, and provides a direct thrust on that tooth 6 through the bearing axis of that pawl. Thus, when either pawl is-in engagement with the teeth 6, it will provide a drive between parts I and I, and there will be no camming action arising through the transmission of force. between the parts, which wouldtend to disengage either pawl from the teeth. The teeth, however, may move away from either pawl in one direction, and eachpawl may ride freely over the teeth when-the edge of the pawl having the notch 28 is the trailin edge of the pawl during relative rotation of the parts I and I. With the arrangement shown, the pawl I6 provides a direct drive between parts I and I in one direction and rides freely over the teeth in the other direction, and the pawl I8 provides a direct drive between the parts I andl during this other direction of relative movement and ridesfreely over the teeth 6 during said one direction of relative movement. When both pawls I6 and I8 engage teeth 6 at the same time, there is a full coupling between both parts I and I in both directions of relative movement.

In the face of each wall II and I2 there is a recess 2 I, Figs. 3, 5 and 6, in which is received a ball 22 that is urged outwardly by a helical compression spring 23, Fig. 6, but the outer end of v each recess 2| is slightly constricted so as to prevent full ejection of the ball therefrom. These balls urge the pawls individually, resiliently, yieldingly and outwardly into engagement with the teeth 6 of the barrel part I. The pawl I6 has 'apin 24 extending therefrom in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation between the parts I and I and towards the inner end wall of the part I. The other pawl I8 has a similar pin 25 extending in the same direction. A cam disc 26, as shown separately'in Fig. '7, has a central bearing aperture 2? which is rotatably mounted on the bearing end ID of the innerpart I, and abuts against the end of the wall I3. A notch or opening 28 is provided in the periphery of this cam 26 and into it the pins 24 and 25 extend. When the cam or disc 26 is rocked 0n the bearing end I0, the ends of the notch or opening 28 will alternately engage the pins 24 and 25 and carry those pins away from the adjacent teeth 6, so as to disengage the pawls alternately from the teeth 6. t 7 Q 7 In Fig. 4 one end of the notch 28 is shown as engaging the pin 25 and holding the pawl I8 disengaged from the teeth 6, and at the same time theother end of the notch 28 has fully released the pin 24 so that the pawl I6 can be urged into 4 engagement with the teeth 6 by its related spring pressed ball 22. If the cam or disc 26 is rocked to the left in Fig. 4, the pin 25 will be released so that pawl I8 may be urged yieldingly into engagement with the teeth 6, and immediately thereafter the opposite end of the notch 28 engages the pin 24 and cams the pawl I6 out of engagement with the teeth 6. Thus it will be observed that by rocking of the cam or disc 26 on the bearing end ID of the part I, the pawls- I6 and I8. may be alternately disengaged from the teeth 6. The notch 28 is long enough, however, so that when the cam 26 is in an intermediate position, both pins 24 and 25 will be released sufficiently to enable both pawls I6 and I8 to fully engage with the ratchet teeth 6 of the barrel or part I.

' The face of the own or disc 26 which abuts against the end of the V shapedwall I3 is provided with a radially extending slot or notch 29, see Fig. 7, which receives a cam 38, Figs. 4 and 5. This cam 36 is fixed upon one end of a rod or shaft 31 which extends parallel to and at one side of the axis of relative rotation between the parts I and I to: a point outside of the barrel part I, as shown in Fig. 5. This rod 3I is rotatably mounted in the part I, and its outer end has a portion substantially exposed through a recess 32, see Fig. 1, provided in the periphery of the part I at the end exteriorly of the part I. This exposed end of the rod 3! carries an operating handle 33, Figs. 1, 2 and 5, by which the rod 3| may be rocked to a limited extent, during which rocking movement the cam 36 on the inner end thereof alternately engages opposite sides of the notch or slot 29 in the cam 26 and rocks the latter about the bearing end II! to alternately disengage the pawls I6 and I8 from the teeth 6.

A washer 34 is also rotatably mounted on the bearing end It and is disposed between the cam 26 and the inner end 3 of the outer part I as shown in Fig. 5. This washer is provided with a recess 35 on its face abutting the end 3, and a helical compression spring 36 is disposed in this recess 35 so as to urge the washer 34 against the end face of the cam. 26 and provide some frictional resistance against movement of the cam 26. The periphery of the washer 34 has a bearing engagement with the cylindrical end portion of the chamber in the barrel element or part I, and also has a bearing on the bearing end III.

The part I, at a zone just within the barrel element or part I, has'an outwardly facing shoulder 31, Figs. 3 and 5, formed by reducing the outwardly extending end of the part I. The open end 2 of the part I, at a short distance from its extreme open end, is provided with a circular groove 38. A split, resilient ring 39 is disposed in the groove 38 and extends radially and inwardly into the chamber of the barrel part and overlaps with the shoulder3l to limit outward movement of the part I in a direction endwise of that part. The spring 36, by its endwise pressure on the washer 34 and the part I, holds the shoulder 31 against the ring 39 as shown in Fig. 3. The part I may be pushed endwise and inwardly of the part I a small amount, to release pressure on the ring 39 and enable, its removal when one desires to remove the inner part I from the outer part, I.

The outer end of the part I is provided with a non-circular recess lilto receivea correspondingly squared end of a part of the drive. The recess 46 corresponds to the socket of a socket Wrench, and is usually made hexagonal orsquare as may be desired, but in the example shown, this recess or socket 46 is square in its periphery,

aromas 5 The open end '2 of the: part "I may have a notch or slot ll, "Fig. 2,:leading to'the "groove 38'to' enabl'e a toolto beinserted behind the "ring 39 suffi'ci'ently to pryonepart ofth'e ring 39, adjacent the split therein, isuffi'cieritly to disengage it from the groove 38.

The cam 30fexten'ds 'to one-side of the rod 3| a further distance than the other, and the maximum width or diameter ofthe'cam is less than the widtho'fthe radialslot ZS'inthe'cam 26. The edge "zones or portions of the cam 30 furthest from and'nearestto the rod 31 are'oircular, with theircent'ers of curvatureat thelongitudinal axis of the rod '3! so that when said circular edge zones of the cam 30 'engageseither side of the slot 2'9,'-the 'thrustbetween that s'ideof the notch ZQ-an'd the cam 30 will not cause rotation of the cam. Ifhus, when the rod *3 is rocked in either direction, the circular peripheral zones of the cam '30 'by engagement with the sides of the notch 29 of the cam 26-will ho1d the cam 26in that adjusted position and prevent any danger of the cam 26 being accidentally shifted'by-any o'ft'he "driving forces in a manner to change the control'ofthepawls thereby.

Itis believed that the operation of the drive will 'be-clear from the preceding description of the construction, but it will be briefly summarized. Assuming that the drive is assembled with the'parts in the relation shown in Figs. 1 to 6,

and thatthe extension 4 of part I is received in a'socketcf apart to be driven, and that a drivingpart has a squareend disposed in the recess 4'0 in the outer end of part 1, the operator first operates the'handle 33-tot he-end position which causes the release of the particular pawl which is to give the desired direction of drive. In Figs. 4 and 6 it is the pawl ffiwhich is released for engagement with the teeth "6, and the pawl f8 is disengaged "from the teeth '6. When 'the'inner part 1' is rotated counter clockwise in 4, it will impart a similar movementto the-outer part I, and-when the inner part l is given a clockwise movement in Fig. *4, thepawl I 6 will ratchet or "ride "idly over the teeth 6 during which there is no driving action between the parts and I.

"If new the handle 33 is moved to itsother "end position, the cam 39 willbe rocked from the 'position shown "in Fig. 4 to the right, or clockwise inthat figure, so "as to rock 'the cam 25 in a direction to have one end of the notch 28 engage pin 14 on paw'l l6 anddisengage ipawl to from the ratchet teeth 6, immediately thereafter fully release the pin 25 on :pawl l8 so "that the pawl I 8 may beyieldingly urged into 7 engagement with the teeth fi and'provide a driving'c'onnection between the parts l'an'd' 'l. With that relation of the parts, *When the part 1 is given a clockwise rotation in Fig. 4, the'pawl i=8 woulddrive the part I in the sam'ecdirection-but would ride idly over the teeth fi "during. :counter clockwise movement ofthelpart Tin Fig. 4.

If the handle =33 is moved into an intermediate position, where neither end of the slot 2'8 holds a pawl out of engagement with the teeth6,'then both 'pawls iB'and I 8 will'be ireeftobe moved into engagement with the teeth 6 by their "spring pressed balls 22, and one .p'awl will provide a direct drive in one direction, and the otherpawl in the other direction, with "no idle or ratchet movement whatever. Thus the device can be set to ratchet in one direction or the other selectively, ori't may Joe placed in a locked condition whichthere is no ratchet Jaction, buta direct drivein'both directions.

The handle '33 is conveniently positioned for adjustment, and all of the partso'f the mechanism are fully-enclosed so as to be protected from dirt and other foreign matter. It will also be noted that byhaving'the pawls mountedfor oscillation on axes which are parallel to the axis' of rotation between the 'parts I and 11, the teeth engaging edges 'of the p'awls maybe made of substantial length, and'the teeth'B mayalsobe made of substantial length. This gives substantial strength to the structure, and rather heavy driving forces may be transmitted with safety between the parts without danger of breakage or the pawls orother parts. The arrangement also accomplishes this heavy driving capacity with great compactness of the drive.

It will be understood that various changes'in the details, materials and arrangements-oif parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, maybe made by those skilled in the artwithin the principle and scope of the invention as' ex pressed in the appended claims.

roam":

'1 A ratchet drive comprising a driving part and a driven part partially telescoping endw ise and having cooperating bearing surfaces rotat ably supportingone from the-other, 'one of said parts having a peripherally extending row "oi teeth, the other of said parts mounting a pair of pawls for individual movement into and out of "engagement with said "teeth, 'one paWLby its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of said parts inone direction and ri'ding idly over the teeth in the other direction, and the other pawl, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of the parts in said other direction and riding idly over said teeth in said one direction, means resiliently iurgin'g "both of said pawls individually into engagement with said teeth, said pawls having extensions at corresponding ends eccentric 'to their pivotal axes, and a disk disposed transversely across the ends of said pawls', I mounted for movement back and forth about the axis of relative rotation 'of said parts and having an opening into which said pawl extensions continuously project, said disk when rotated in either direction having one end oisaid opening engaging the extension of one pawl :and forcing it out of engagement with said teeth while the other end of the opening fully releases the extension on the other pawl, :and disengagingsaidpawls alternately as saidldisk moves back and forth, said opening having a length in the direction of movement of said disk greaterth'an the distance between said extensions whenboth pawlsiengage with said teeth, whereby whenlsaid disk is in an intermediate angular position in 0 its adjustmerihthe ends of the opening will fully release both pawlsfor engagement with .said

teeth.

2. A ratchet drive comprising a driving part and a driven part partially telescoping endwise '65and having cooperating bearing-surfaces rotatably supporting one from the other, one of said parts having a peripherally extending row of teeth, .the other of said parts mounting a pair of pawlsior individual movement into and out 7 of engagement with said teeth, one pawl, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of said partsin one direction and'riding idly over the teeth in the other direction, and

theother pawl, by its engagementwith saidteeth,

"75 preventing relative rotation of *the "parts "in said other direction and riding idly over said teeth in said one direction, means resiliently urging bothof said pawls individually into engagement with said teeth, an element mounted on said part carrying said pawls and adjustable thereon between three positions in one of which it shifts one of said pawls out of engagement with said teeth, holds it so disengaged, and releases the other pawl, in another of which it shifts said other pawl out of engagement with said teeth, holds it so disengaged, and releases said one pawl, and in the third of which positions it releases both of said pawls concurrently, a shaft rockably mounted on said part carrying said pawls and extending in a direction parallel to the rocking axes of the pawls to a point exteriorly of the telescoping parts, said shaft at one end having a cam part engaging with said element to shift it between said positions when said shaft is rocked, and the outer end of said shaft having an operating handle by which it may be rocked in order tochange the adjustments of said element.

3. A ratchet drive comprising a driving part and a driven part partially telescoping endwise and having cooperating bearing surfaces rotatably supporting one from the other, one of said parts having a peripheral row of longitudinally extending teeth, the other of said parts mounting a pair of pawls for individual movement into and out of engagement with said teeth, one pawl, by its engagement withsaid teeth, preventing relative rotation of said parts in one direction and riding idly over the teeth in the other direction, and the other pawl, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of the parts in said other direction and riding idly over said teeth in said one direction, means resiliently urging both of said pawls individually into engagement with said teeth, a cam disk extending across the ends of the pawls, mounted for rocking movement about an axis parallel to the rocking axes of said pawls and having an opening in the face towards the pawls in which the ends of the pawls are continuously received and extending in a direction about the rocking axis, said pawls being engaged alternately by the ends of said opening, a member mounted for oscillation about an axis parallel to, but eccentric of the axis of relative rotation between said parts and engageable with said disk to rock it selectively between two positions, in one of which one end of said opening shifts one of said pawls out of engagement'with said teeth and holds it so disengaged while the opposite end of the opening releases the other pawl, and in another of which it shifts the other pawl out of engagement with said teeth, holds it so disengaged and releases the said one of said pawls, the opening being of a length, in the direction of movement of said disk, greater than the distance between said pawl ends when both pawls engage said teeth, whereby when said disk is in an intermediate position it releases both of said pawls for engagement with said teeth,

engagement with said teeth, one pawl, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of said parts in one direction and riding idly over the teeth in the other direction, and the other pawl, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of the parts in said other direction and riding idly over said teeth in said one direction, means resiliently urging both of said pawls individually into engagement with said teeth, said pawls having extensions at corresponding ends, an element mounted for movement back and'forth about the axis of relative rotation of said parts and having a notch in which said pawl extensions are disposed, said element when rotated in either direction engaging the extension of one pawl and forcing it out of engagement with said teeth while the other end of the notch fully releases the extension on the other pawl, and disengaging said pawls alternately as said element moves back and forth, said notch having a length in the direction of movement of said element greater than the distance between said extensions when both pawls engage with said teeth, whereby when said element is in an intermediate position in its adjustment, the ends of the notches will fully release both pawls for engagement with said teeth, a rod rockably mounted about its longitudinal axis and extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said part carrying the pawls, and means fixed on the inner end of said rod and having a cam engagement with said element for rocking it between said different positions, said rod extending outwardly beyond the telescoping portions of said parts and there having an exposed portion accessible for operation when a shifting of said pawls is desired.

5. A ratchet device comprising a, hollow, barrel part open at one end, an inner part partially telescoping endwise within said barrel part, said parts having cooperating bearing surfaces rotatably supporting one from the other, said barrel part having a row of teeth around its inner'periphery, said inner part rockably mounting a pair of pawls for individual rocking movement about axes parallel to the axis of relative rotation of said parts, individually into and out of engagement with said teeth, one of said pawls, by its engagement with the teeth, preventing relative rotation of said parts in one direction and riding idly over the teeth in the other direction, the other of said pawls, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of the parts in said other direction and riding idly over the teeth in said one direction, means resiliently urging said pawls individually into engagement with said teeth, an element rockably mounted on said inner part adjacent the inner end of said barrel part and having an opening therein, and said pawls having eccentric pins extending into and continuously remaining in said opening so as to be alternately engaged by the ends of said opening when said element is rocked on said inner part, the ends of said notch alternately engaging and shifting said pawls out of engagement with said teeth while releasing the other pawl for engagement with said teeth, said notch having a length sufficient, when at an intermediate 'position, to fully release the pins of both pawls for simultaneous engagement of said pawls with said teeth, and means engaging said element extending from said element lengthwise of the barrel part to its outer end and there accessible for'opk eration from the exterior of said telescoping parts for rocking said element in opposite directions r 9 to control the I engagement of sai dpawls with said teeth. a

6. A- ratchet device comprising a. hollow, barrel part open-lat one, end, an inner part partially telescoping endwise within said barrel part, said par-ts having cooperating bearing surfaces r0,- tatably supporting one from the other, said barrel part having a row of teeth around itsfinner Periphery, said inner part rockably mounting a pairoi pawls for individual rocking. movement about axes parallel to the axis of relative rotation of, said parts, individually into and, out of engagement with said teeth, one, of. said pawls, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotationof said parts in one directignand ridingidly over the teeth in the other direction, the other of said pawls, by its engagement with said; teeth, preventing relative rotation of the parts insaidother direction and riding idly over theteeth in said one direction, means resiliently urging said pawls individually into engagement with said teeth, an element rockably mounted. on said inner part adjacent the inner end. of, said barrel part and having an opening therein, and said pawls having pins extending into and always remaining in said openingso as to bealternately engaged by the ends of said'opening when said element is rocked on said inner part, the

ends of'said notch-alternately engaging andshifting said pawls out of engagement with said teeth while releasing the other pawl for engagement with said teeth, said notch having a length greaterthan the distance between said pins and. sufficient, when at an intermediate position, to fully release the pins of both pawls for simultaneous engagementof said pawls with said teeth, means engaging said element extending, lengthwise of said parts to the open end of the barrel part and there. accessible for operation from the exterior ofsaid telescoping parts for rocking said element in opposite directions to control the engagement of said pawls with said teeth, andmeans at the inner end of said barrel and acting between said barrel part and said element for frictionally resisting movement'of said element on said inner part.

7, Aratchet device comprising a hollow, barrel part open at one end, an inner part partially telescoping endwise within said barrel part, said parts having cooperating bearing surfaces rotatably supporting one from the other, said barrel part having a rowof teeth around its inner periphery, said innerpart rockably mounting a pair of pawls for individual rock-ing movement about axes parallel to the axis of relative rotation of said parts; individually intoand out of engagement with said teeth, one of said pawls, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of said parts in one direction and riding idly over the teeth in the other direction, the other of said pawls, by its engagement with: said teeth, preventing relative rotation of the parts in said other direction and riding idly over the teeth in said one direction, means resiliently urging said pawls individually into engagement with said teeth, an element rockably mounted on said inner part. adjacent, the inner end of said barrel part and having an opening therein, and said pawls-havin pins. extending into said opening so: as to be alternately engaged by the ends of said opening when. said element is rocked on said inner part, the ends of said notch alternately engaging and shifting said pawls. out of engagement with said teeth while releasing the other pawlfor engagement with said teeth, said notch having alengthsufiicient, when at anintermediate position, to fully release the, pins of both pawls for simultaneous engagement of said pawls with said teeth, means engaging said element and accessible for operation from the exterior of said telescoping parts for rocking said element in opposite directions to control the engagement of said pawls with said teeth, a washer disposed be,- tween the, inner part and the inner end of. said barrel part and having an end face bearing against, said element so as to frictionally retard its rocking movement on said inner part, and a spring acting between the inner end of said barrel part and said washer, and urging said washer endwise against said element so as to frictionally hold said element in its different adjusted positions.

8. A ratchet device, comprising a hollow, barrel part open at one end, an inner part partially telescoping endwise withinsaid barrel part, said parts having cooperating bearing surfaces rotatably supporting one. from the other, said barrel part having a row of teeth around its, inner periphery, said inner part rockably mountings, pair of pawls for individual rocking movement about axes parallel to the axis of relative rotation of said parts, individually into and out of engage.- ment with said teeth, one of said pawls, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotationof said parts inone direction and riding idly over the teeth in the other, direction, the other of. said pawls, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of the parts in said other direction and riding idly over the teeth in said one direction, means, resiliently urging said pawls individually into engagement with said teeth, an element rockably mounted on said inner partadjacent the inner end of, said barrel part and having an opening therein, and said pawls having pins extending into said opening so as to be alternately engagedby the ends of said opening when said element is rockedon said inner part,,the ends of said notch alternately engaging and shifting said pawls out of engagement with said teeth while releasingthe other pawl for engagement with said teeth, saidnotch having a length sufficient, when at an intermediate position, to fully release the pins of both pawlsfor simultaneous engagement of said pawls with said teeth, a rod extending in a direction lengthwise of said inner part and rockably mounted for oscillation on its own axis, by said inner part, and a connection between the inner end of said rod and said element for transmitting rocking movements of said rod into rocking movements of said element, said rod extending out of the telescoping relation between said parts and having its outer end exposed for manual rocking, operation.

9. A ratchet device comprising a hollow, barrel, part open at one end, an inner part partially telescoping endwise within said barrel part, said parts having cooperating bearing surfaces rotatably supporting one from the other, said barrel p rt having a row of teeth around its inner periphery, said inner part rockably mounting a pair of pawls for individual rocking movement about axes parallel. to the axis of relative rotation of said parts, individually into and out of engagement with said teeth, one of said pawls, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of said parts in one direction and riding idly over the teeth in the other direction, the other of, said pawls, by its engagement 75 with said teeth, preventing relative, rotation of 11 V the parts in said other direction and riding idly over the teeth in said one direction, means resiliently urging said pawls individually into engagement with said teeth, an element rockably mounted on said inner part adjacent the inner end of said barrel part and having an opening therein, and said pawls having pins extending into said opening so as to be alternately engaged by the ends of said opening when said element is rocked on said inner part, the ends of said notch alternately engaging and shifting said pawls out of engagement with said teeth while releasing the other pawl for engagement with said teeth, said notch having a length sufficient, when at an intermediate position, to fully release the pins of both pawls for simultaneous engagement of said pawls with said teeth, a rod extending in a direction lengthwise of said inner part and rockably mounted for oscillation on ,its own axis, a connection between the inner end of said rod and said element for transmitting rockingmovements of said rod into rocking movements of said element, said rod extending out of the telescoping relation between said parts and having its outer end exposed for manual rocking operation, a washer disposed between the inner end of said barrel part and said element, a spring acting between the inner end of said barrel part and said washer for urging said washer endwise against said element and frictionally resisting rockingmovement of said element, whereby said element will retain the positions into which it is adjusted by said rod;

10. A ratchet drive comprising a hollow barrel part havin an open end, an inner part telescoping within said barrel part through said open end, said barrel part adjacent its open end having an annular groove in its inner periphery, and said inner part having a peripherally extending shoulder approximately aligned, transversely of the parts, with the inner side wall of said groove, a split ring releasably engaged in said groove and overlying said shoulder so'as to prevent endwise retraction of said inner 'part from said barrel part, the inner periphery of said barrel part having teeth extending in a direction lengthwise thereof and arranged in a row around said inner periphery, said telescoping parts having cooperating bearing surfaces by which one part is rotatably connected to the other, a pair of pawls carried by said inner part within said barrel part and rockably mounted on axes parallel to the axis of relative rotation between said parts, spring means urging said pawls individually into engagement with said teeth, one of said pawls preventing relative rotation of said parts in one direction while riding idly over the teeth in the other direction, and the other of said pawls, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of said parts in said other direction while riding idly over said teeth in said one direction, and means carried by said inner part, engageable for operation from the exterior of the barrel part, and operable on said pawls by movement between selected positions, to shift them alternately out of engagement with said teeth and hold each disengaged while releasing the other pawl, and, when in another position, fully releasing both of said pawls for simultaneous engagement with said teeth to prevent relative rotation of said parts in both directions.

11. A ratchet drive comprising a hollow barrel part having an open end, an inner part telescoping within said barrel part through said open 12 end, said barrel part adjacent its 'open end having an annular groove in its inner periphery, and 'saidinner part having a peripherally extending shoulder approximately aligned, transversely of the parts, with the inner side wall of said groove, a split ring releasably engaged in said groove and overlying said shoulder so as to prevent endwise retraction of said inner part from said barrel par-t, the inner periphery of said barrel part having teeth extending in a direction lengthwise thereof and arranged in a row around said inner periphery, said telescoping parts having cooperating bearing surfaces 'by which one part is rotatably connected to the other l a pair of pawls carried by said inner part within said barrel part and rockably mounted on axes parallel to the axis of relative rotation between said parts, spring means urging said pawls individually into engagement with said teeth, one of said pawls preventing relative rotation of said parts in one direction while riding idly over the teeth in the other direction, and the other of said pawls, by its engagement with saidteeth, preventing relative rotation of said parts in said other direction while riding idly over said teeth in said one direction, means carried by said inner part, engageable for operation from the exterior of the barrel part, and operable on said pawls, by movement between selected positions, to shift them alternately out of engagement with said teeth and hold each disengaged while releasing the other pawl, and, when in another position, fully releasing both of said pawls for simultaneous engagement with said teeth'to prevent relative rotation of said parts in both directions, a washer interposed between the inner end of the barrel part and said last named means for frictionally holding the latter in its different positions, and a spring acting between the inner end of said barrel part and said washer and urging said washer in a direction outwardly of said barrel part to provide the frictional contact with said pawl shifting means, and for holding said shoulder against said split ring.

12. A ratchet device comprising a barrel part having one open end and closed at the other end,

an inner part partially telescoping into said barrel part, the telescoping portions of said parts having cooperating bearing surfaces by which the parts may have relative rotation about an axis parallel to the lengths of said parts, the inner wall of said barrel part adjacent its open end having an inwardly facing shoulder, and said inner part having adjacent thereto an outwardly facing shoulder, a split ring disposed between said shoulders so as to releasably lock said parts together against endwise separation, the

chamber within said barrel part having a peripherally arranged row of teeth, a pair of pawls carried by said inner part extending approximately to the inner end of said barrel part and movable individually into and out of engagement with said teeth, resilient means urging said pawls individually into engagement with said teeth, one i of said pawls, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of parts in one direction and riding idly over the teeth in the other direction, and the other of said pawls, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of said parts in said other direction and riding idly over said teeth in said one direction, a rod extending parallel to the axis of rotation between said parts, from adjacent the inner end of the barrel .part to and beyond the ,75 open end of said barrel part, and rotatably sup ported by the inner part between the peripheral Wall of said inner part and the axis of rotation of said parts, a member operated by the inner end of said rod for shifting said pawls alternately and individually out of engagement with said teeth or releasing both of said pawls concurrently, and a manually operable terminal on the outer end of said rod.

13. A ratchet device comprising a barrel part having one open end, an inner part partially telescoping into said barrel part, the telescoping portions of said parts having cooperating bearing surfaces by which the parts may have relative rotation about an axis parallel to the lengths of said parts, the inner wall of said barrel part adjacent its open end having an inwardly facing shoulder, and said inner part having adjacent thereto an outwardly facing shoulder, a split ring disposed between said shoulders so as to releasably lock said parts together against endwise separation, the chamber within said barrel part having a peripherally arranged row of teeth, a pair of pawls carried by said inner part and 14 movable individually into and out of engagement with said teeth, resilient means urging said pawls individually into engagement with said teeth, one of saidpawls, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of parts in one direction and riding idly over the teeth in the other direction, and the other of said pawls, by its engagement with said teeth, preventing relative rotation of said parts in said other direction and riding idly over said teeth in saidone direction, a motion transmitting element for shifting said pawls alternately and individually out of engagement with said teeth or releasing both of said pawls concurrently, said element having a portion accessible for operation exteriorly of said barrel part, a washer disposed between said ele- -ment and the inner end of said barrel, and a 

